Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch

SEPTEMBER 2015

Know your limit, play within it. For Help: 1-888-795-6111 or

www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca

Standard Procedures for

Licensed Poker Gaming Events No Limits Texas Holdem

Standard Procedures for Licensed Poker Gaming Events September 2015

Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch Page 2

Table of Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 4

2. Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................................................. 4 2.1. Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch ................................................................................ 4 2.2. Your organization as the gaming event licensee ..................................................................... 4 2.3. Requirement to report wrongdoings ........................................................................................ 4 2.4. Gaming services providers ...................................................................................................... 5

3. The Poker Event Licence .................................................................................................................. 5 3.1. Canceling or amending your poker event licence ................................................................... 5 3.2. Transferring or assigning your poker event licence ................................................................ 5

4. Responsible Gambling Standards .................................................................................................... 5

5. Advertising and Promoting your Poker Event ................................................................................ 6 5.1. Printed advertising and marketing products ............................................................................ 6 5.2. Television and radio advertising ............................................................................................. 6 5.3. Internet advertising .................................................................................................................. 6

6. Poker Event Requirements and Rules of Play ................................................................................ 7 6.1. Staffing the Poker Event ......................................................................................................... 7 6.2. Ticket Requirements ............................................................................................................... 8 6.3. Playing Cards and Chips ......................................................................................................... 8 6.4. Prizes ....................................................................................................................................... 8 6.5. Facility Requirements ............................................................................................................. 9 6.6. Tables ...................................................................................................................................... 9 6.7. Cashier station ......................................................................................................................... 9

7. Revenue from the Poker Event ....................................................................................................... 10 7.1. Poker Event Expenses ........................................................................................................... 10 7.2. Volunteer out-of-pocket expenses ......................................................................................... 10 7.3. Donated expenses .................................................................................................................. 10

8. Financial Control and Audit Requirements .................................................................................. 11 8.1. Access to gaming records ...................................................................................................... 11

9. Public Complaints Concerning the Conduct of the Poker Event ................................................ 11

10. Failure to Comply with Standard Procedures .............................................................................. 11

11. Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch Contact Information .................................................. 12

Appendix A: Advertising and Marketing Standards for Gambling in British Columbia .................. 13

Appendix B: Conducting the No Limits Holdem Poker Tournament Event ..................................... 16

Appendix C: General Poker Rules of Play ............................................................................................. 21

Appendix D: Poker Definitions ................................................................................................................ 28

Appendix E: Event Incident Report Form ............................................................................................. 39

Appendix F: Event Checklist ................................................................................................................... 40

Standard Procedures for Licensed Poker Gaming Events September 2015

Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch Page 3

SEPTEMBER 2015 AMENDMENT

CLARIFICATIONS Appendix A The Advertising and Marketing Standards for the B.C. Gambling

Industry has been updated to the Advertising and Marketing Standards for Gambling in British Columbia.

FEBRUARY 2012 AMENDMENTS

CLARIFICATION Section 2.3 Reporting known or suspected criminal activity: requirements clarified.

REDUCED REQUIREMENT Sections 5.1, 5.2 Responsible gambling messaging required in advertising: 19+ added

to end of Know Your Limit, Play Within It, reducing amount of text required.

ADDED REQUIREMENT Section 5.3 Responsible gambling messaging required in advertising, marketing and

promotion in social media.

OCTOBER 2011 AMENDMENTS CLARIFICATION Section 6.5 Licensees must ensure they are appropriately licensed by the Liquor

Control and Licensing Branch for liquor served in the gaming area.

MAY 2010 AMENDMENTS CLARIFICATION Section 3 A venue cannot host more than one licensed poker event per week.

Standard Procedures for Licensed Poker Gaming Events September 2015

Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch Page 4

1. Introduction This document provides the rules that must be followed when conducting and managing a licensed poker event (No Limits Texas Holdem) in British Columbia.

These Standard Procedures are a condition of the poker event licence and apply to the poker event licensee, gaming services providers, and all volunteer and hired staff involved in the conduct, management and operation of the licensed poker event.

2. Roles and Responsibilities 2.1. Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch The branch regulates gaming in British Columbia and ensures the integrity and lawful conduct and management of gaming in the province.

This includes issuing gaming event licences to eligible organizations and ensuring licensees comply with the Criminal Code, British Columbias Gaming Control Act (the Act) and Gaming Control Regulation, the branchs public interest standards where applicable, and the conditions of their licence.

The Assistant Deputy Minister and General Manager, hereafter referred to as the General Manager, is the head of the branch and responsible, under the direction of the Minister, for the administration of the Act.

2.2. Your organization as the gaming event licensee Licensees must comply with Canadas Criminal Code, British Columbias Gaming Control Act and Gaming Control Regulation, and all relevant rules, policies and standards.

The volunteer Board members of your organization are responsible for the proper conduct and management of gaming events for which they are licensed. This responsibility cannot be delegated. This includes ensuring the licensed poker event is conducted in accordance with these Standard Procedures, the Conditions of the licence, and any additional conditions imposed by the branch.

Certain duties associated with a licensed poker event cannot be delegated to other parties. At a minimum, the volunteer Board of the licensee must perform the following duties: Review and sign the licence application form; Be accountable for the proper conduct and management of all poker events; and, Approve and sign the Gaming Event Revenue Report and Gaming Account Summary

Report, if applicable.

An event checklist is provided in Appendix F to assist licensees in conducting the licensed poker event properly. Licensees must read and fully understand the standard procedures and conditions to ensure all the requirements are met.

2.3. Requirement to report wrongdoings Section 86(2) of the Gaming Control Act (GCA) requires all licensees to notify GPEBs Investigations and Regional Operations division without delay regarding any conduct, activity or incident that may be considered contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada, the Gaming Control Act or Gaming Control Regulations, or that may affect the integrity of gaming. This includes, but is not limited to, cheating at play, thefts, fraud and assaults. The required reporting form, Section 86 Gaming Control Act Report, is contained in Appendix E.

http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/L